Heartbeat
Heartbeat is an all-in-one community platform that combines real-time chat, forum discussions, live events, and content hosting to help you build and manage highly engaged online groups and memberships.
MembershipWorks
MembershipWorks is an all-in-one membership management software that automates renewals, event registrations, and directory listings to help professional associations and nonprofits manage their communities more efficiently.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Heartbeat | MembershipWorks |
|---|---|---|
| Website | heartbeat.chat | membershipworks.com |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Freemium |
| Starting Price | $49/month | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 14 days free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2020 | 2013 |
| Headquarters | New York, USA | Austin, USA |
Overview
Heartbeat
Heartbeat is an all-in-one platform designed to help you build, manage, and scale online communities without juggling multiple tools. Instead of forcing your members to switch between Slack for chat, Zoom for meetings, and Teachable for courses, you can host everything in one branded space. You can organize your community into dedicated channels, create long-form forum threads for deep discussions, and host live video events directly within the app.
The platform is built for creators, educators, and organizations who want to foster genuine connection. You can easily manage memberships, process payments through Stripe, and gate content based on specific user groups. Whether you are launching a small mastermind or scaling a massive online school, Heartbeat provides the infrastructure to keep your members engaged and your administrative tasks automated.
MembershipWorks
MembershipWorks provides a streamlined way to handle the administrative side of your organization. Instead of juggling separate tools for your database, payments, and website, you get an integrated system that handles member sign-ups, automated renewal reminders, and secure payment processing. You can easily embed the platform directly into your existing website—whether you use WordPress, Squarespace, Weebly, or a custom site—ensuring a consistent experience for your members.
The platform scales with your growth, offering features like tiered membership levels, member-only content protection, and searchable public or private directories. You can also manage events with tiered pricing and automated ticketing. It eliminates manual data entry by syncing your member information and financial records in real-time, allowing you to focus on growing your community rather than managing spreadsheets.
Overview
Heartbeat Features
- Real-time Chat Create organized channels for instant messaging so your members can connect and collaborate in real-time.
- Forum Discussions Host long-form threads and searchable discussions to ensure your community's best knowledge never gets lost in the chat.
- Course Hosting Build and sell online courses with a native LMS that keeps your educational content right next to your community.
- Live Events Schedule and host live video calls or webinars directly in the platform with integrated calendar syncing.
- Member Directories Help your members find each other with searchable profiles and custom fields tailored to your community's needs.
- Automated Onboarding Set up automated workflows to welcome new members and guide them through your community's most important resources.
MembershipWorks Features
- Automated Renewals. Set up automated email reminders and recurring payments so your memberships renew on time without manual follow-up.
- Website Integration. Embed membership forms, directories, and event calendars directly into your existing WordPress, Squarespace, or Weebly website.
- Event Registration. Create events with member-only pricing, custom registration forms, and automated ticketing to simplify your planning process.
- Member Directories. Build searchable directories with custom fields and map views to help your members connect and network.
- Donation Tracking. Collect one-time or recurring donations and generate tax-compliant receipts automatically for your nonprofit organization.
- Member-Only Content. Protect specific pages or documents on your website so only active members in certain tiers can access them.
Pricing Comparison
Heartbeat Pricing
- Up to 1,000 members
- Unlimited storage
- Custom domain
- Web, iOS, and Android apps
- Stripe payment integration
- Basic reporting
- Everything in Starter, plus:
- Unlimited members
- Advanced analytics
- Custom onboarding flows
- API access
- Removal of Heartbeat branding
MembershipWorks Pricing
- Up to 50 members
- Unlimited admins
- Event calendar & registration
- Shopping cart & donations
- Member directory
- Standard support
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Up to 300 members
- Automated renewal emails
- Recurring payments
- Member-only content protection
- Custom member folders
Pros & Cons
Heartbeat
Pros
- Consolidates chat, courses, and events into one app
- Clean and modern interface is easy for members
- Strong mobile app performance for on-the-go engagement
- Highly responsive customer support and active development
- Flexible permission settings for different member tiers
Cons
- Learning curve for setting up complex automations
- Lacks a forever-free plan for very small groups
- Limited native integrations compared to older platforms
MembershipWorks
Pros
- Seamless integration with popular website builders
- Pricing scales by member count, not admins
- Highly responsive and helpful technical support
- Easy setup for automated recurring billing
Cons
- Interface feels slightly dated compared to modern apps
- Learning curve for complex event setup
- Limited built-in email marketing design tools